The 9/11 terrorist attacks that took place in the United States in 2001 have had a profound impact on the relationship between Western societies and Muslim-majority societies. His Highness the Aga Khan visited the United States the following year and made this speech in Houston on 23 June 2002, at a banquet attended by the Governor of Texas, other government officials, and civil society leaders.

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Centuries ago, Muslim societies were among the leading civilisations in the world, driven by and building upon the discovery of new knowledge. His Highness the Aga Khan raised the question of how modern Muslim societies can strengthen themselves by becoming leading participants in today’s knowledge society in this speech at the Aga Khan University’s convocation in Karachi, Pakistan on 6 December 2006.

As a strong proponent of pluralism, His Highness the Aga Khan has often emphasised its spiritual roots, in various world religions. He was presented with the Tolerance Award by the Tutzing Evangelical Academy in Germany, where he delivered this speech on 12 February 2006. 

Diverse Muslim societies and communities are searching for ways to bridge the traditional teachings of Islam with the modern challenges of today’s world. His Highness the Aga Khan delivered this Presidential address at the International Seerat Conference, a gathering of Islamic scholars hosted by the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs in Karachi, on 12 March 1976. 

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The Ismaili Centres are high profile, ambassadorial buildings. They incorporate a Jamatkhana as a place of prayer for the Ismaili community, alongside secular spaces that also serve wider society. Jamatkhanas are one of the diverse spaces of worship found among Muslim communities globally. His Highness the Aga Khan gave this speech on 13 December 2003 at the foundation ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

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The architecture of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Canada is inspired by the mysteries of rock crystal. His Highness the Aga Khan spoke about this symbolism and of the relationship between the Ismaili Imamat and Canada in this speech at the opening ceremony on 6 December 2008.

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While rich musical traditions exist in Muslim societies, some interpretations of Islam reject music as not permissible. His Highness the Aga Khan spoke about the importance of the musical traditions of the Muslim world in this speech at the first prize-giving ceremony of the Aga Khan Music Awards on 31 March 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal.

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The Holy Qur’an has been a source of inspiration for Muslims through the ages. His Highness the Aga Khan delivered this opening address at an international conference titled “Word of God, Art of Man: The Qur’an and its Creative Expressions,” organised by The Institute of Ismaili Studies on 19 October 2003 in London.

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was created in 1977 to help revitalise the rich Muslim architectural traditions that were being lost in the modern world. His Highness the Aga Khan spoke about the impact and future direction of the award at the 13th prize-giving ceremony held on 6 November 2016 in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.

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In a globalised world, one of the major challenges is that diverse peoples, cultures, and religions are increasingly in contact with one another, which, at times, leads to conflict and even violence. His Highness the Aga Khan has been a major champion for pluralism, valuing diversity as a strength rather than a threat. He delivered this LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture on the 15th of October 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Please note that although the majority of this speech is in English, it does contain some portions in French. A translation is available below and on the Aga Khan Development Network website.

[I consider it a great honour and I was very moved to have been invited to deliver this lecture at the LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium. I must say, dear Madame Clarkson, that I am even more moved by your very flattering comments. It is also a great pleasure to be among so many friends, old and new, here in Toronto, and I am particularly pleased to have been introduced, as I have just said, so warmly this evening by my good friends John Ralston Saul and Adrienne Clarkson. I feel deeply grateful for this very kind invitation and for your generous welcome.]

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